Dowsett oversaw two bestselling projects — the Maclean’s university rankings and the Maclean’s Guide to Canadian Universities — for more than 14 years. Most recently, she spent a year researching the issue of women and alcohol.

Dowsett Johnston will speak about addiction amongst women: “Our Love Affair with Alcohol: How a Fairy-tale Romance Blinds Us to the Obvious.” It looks at how addiction impacts health and the well-being of women and families, and why this is a public policy health issue that concerns us all.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit House of Friendship’s $2 million capital campaign, Under One Roof, which aims to transform women’s addiction services by bringing House of Friendship’s women’s addiction treatment programs under one roof in Kitchener.

Tickets for the dinner are $60 per person and can be purchased online at www.friendshipdinner.eventbrite.com, calling 519-742-8327, ext. 131, or emailing fundraising@houseoffriendship.org.